Slack adjuster



Jan. 6, 1925.

W. H. SAUVAGE SLACK ADJUSTER Filed March 8, 1923 A r :l i ainh? kk 0 z i4! & Q

Fatented Jan. 6, 1925,

WILLIAM H. SAUVAGE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO GOULD COUPLER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SLACK ADJUSTER.

Application filed, March 8, 1923. Serial No. 62357 To all whom it mayconcern Be it known that WILLIAM H. SAUVAGE, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of NewYork, hasinvented certain new and useful Improvements in SlackAdjusters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in slack adjusters, and moreparticularly to automatic slack adjuster mechanism associated with thefoundation brake rigging of railway vehicles. The invention willhereinafter he described with relation to its application to the brakecylinder usually located centrally beneath the car floor and to whichthe main levers are adapted to be connected.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a simple andpractical slack adjuster mechanism adapted tobe directly associated withthe primary brake rigging of railway cars, which will be reliable andeflicient in use and operation. a V

A further object isto provide an automatic slack adjuster, particularlyapplicable to foundation brake rigging, which will insure uniform pistontravel at all times.

A further object is to provide a compact, durable and efficient slackadjuster mechanism of the above general character which may beinexpensively manufactured and assembled.

Other. objects will be in part obvious and in part hereinafter pointedout in connection with the accompanying sheet of drawings showing one ofvarious possible embodiments of the invention and in the several viewsof which similar parts are designated by corresponding referencecharacters.

In these drawings Figure 1 is a sectional plan view of the brakecylinder and associated parts; 7

Figure 2 is a detail sectional view of the slack adjuster mechanism; andY Figure 3 is a vertical view of the brake cylinder and associatedparts. 7

Referring now. to the drawings in detail, 5 designates the brakecylinder normally positioned centrally beneath the car floor. Thiscylinder is provided with an inlet pipe 6 for directing air or otherfluid pressure means to the interior for co-action with a piston 8provided with a piston rod 9 and a return spring 10. The piston rod 9cooperates with a live lever 11, as shown in Figure 3. A dead lever 12is pivotally connected at its upper end to a bifurcated portion 13 of anadjusting rod 14, which is supported in a casing 15 mounted on the carframe 16, and also from a pivotal connection 17 at one end of thecylinder 5. This also urged relatively towards the left by means of aspring 25 asshown. The entire housmg 23 is movable towards and from thehous1ng21 on excess movement of the piston 8 by means'of a bent rod 26having a portion 27 within the cylinder 5 adapted to be engaged by thepiston 8. When excess travel takes place, the entire rod-26 is movedrelatively towards the left, causing nuts 28 at its opposite end toengage with a support- 30 associated with the housing 23 and move saidhousing towards the left against the action of a spiral spring 31surrounding the rod 14:. The housings 21 and 23- have an inter-fittinglocking engagement, as indicated at 32 for the purposeof preventingrelative turning movement of the two housings. v 4

It is, of course, to be understood that the dogs 20 and 24 are ofsubstantially the type shown in my numerous prior patents and compriserectangular pieces of high grade metal having holes therein throughwhich the rod 14 is adapted to pass. a The edges'of the holes in thedogs are preferably hardened in order to insure a longer life anddurable biting engagement with the rod.- These dogs will permit the rodto move rela-. tively in one direction, that is, towards the right, butwill not permit a movement in the opposite direction.

The .apparatus herein shown and 'de-.

ing manner: When air is admittedtothe cylinder 5 through the port 6, thepiston 8 is moved over its predetermined distance acting and reactingupon the live and dead cylinder leversgn and'12, Figure 3,.to cause theusual application of the brakes. If, however, due to wear of the parts,brake shoes and wheels, excess travel takes place then the pistonengages the end 27 of the rod 26 and moves that towards the left adistance exactly equal to the excess travel of the piston. This, in.turn, moves the housing 23 towards the left, compressing the springl asshown inFigureQ. dog atQtduringthis operation is free to slide alongthe-rod 14. hen the brakes are released'the spring 31 will expand andthe dog 24c, having a new point of engagement with the rodl l, willcause the same to move towards the right a distance exactlyequal to theexcess travel, as shown, for example, by the dotted line position of therod 14. That is, the rod 14 is pulled,

towardsthe rightifreely through the dogs 20,, whic h in turn, take up avfurther biting.

or looking engagement with the rod. 14:. This actionis repeated fromtime to time as wear takes place until the bifurcated connection 13moves nearly to the end of its path of travelin the pivoted arm orsupport 15, at which time it is necessary to replace the worn parts,brake. shoes, etc., and re-adjust the mechanism, In order to do this thedogs 20 and .24 are moved in any desired mannerto a, position at rightangles to the axis of the rod 14 whereupon this rod, 14 may be restoredto its normal' position, as shown in Figure 1.

In order to perm1t. ease of assembly, the

support 1 5.is :provided with a screw plug. 33 for inserting, the pivotpin 34 in the top of the dead lever12, The head of this pin is thenlooked in place by replacing the plug ar d travels in suitable grooves35. The ylinder may also be. provided with a leak groove..36; to allowthe escape of any air that mav slowly leak 'intolthecylihder, but is,not of sufiic'ient, size to interfere with the normal application. of.the brakes.

It will thus be seen that the present in; vention provides a simple andpractical slack adjuster mechanism which willbe reli-, able and etficient in use and operation. The

parts may ,be inexpensively, manufactured and assembled and applied tobrake rigging now general use without material modification oralteration. ofthe .lever, mechae nism, I f

Without further analysis, the foregoing will .so fully revealthe gist ofthis invention that, others can, by applying current, knowledge, readilyadapt it for various applications without omitting certain features thatfrom thestandpoint of the prior art fairly con'stit ite essentialcharacteristics of the generic or 'sp ecifi c aspects ofthis. inventioniae esissash dar aaenssla ea d The are intended to be comprehendedwithin the meaning and range of equivalency of the "following claims.

rod, adapted to be actuated on excess piston travel, means for movingsaid rod on excess travel to a newly adjustedposition, said last namedmeans including a member adapted to be engaged by said piston on excesstravel thereof'and means for holding said rod in said newly adjustedposition.

2. Ina slack adjuster for foundation brake rigging, in combination, acylinder having a piston adapted to be connected with a live lever, anadjusting rod adapted to supporta dead lever, permanent and tempo-'.ra-ry take up and holding means movable relatively towards and fromeach other during excess travel of the piston and release of the brakesand positioned in housings therefor, said take-up means each .compriaing a 'dogadapted to have a gripping engagement with the adjusting rod,and spring means between said housing acting upon the temporary take-upmechanism and reacting against the permanent take-up mechanism. I

3. In a slack adjuster tor foundation brake rigging, in combination, acylinder havinga piston,,an adjusting rod, a temporary take-up mechanismcoacting with said adjusting rod, means connected withsaid temporarytakeupmechanism adapted to be actuated on excess piston travel, a permanenttake-upmechanism, a spring between the permanent and temporary take-upmech anisms adapted to be compressed on excess travel and to expand onrelease of the, brakes for permanently takingvnp the slack. in the brakerigging.

4:, In a, slack adjuster for foundation brake rigging,.in combination, acylinder having a piston a member adapted to be engaged by said,pistonon excess travel thereof, a temporary take-up mechanism .moved bysaid memberon excess travel, a

venting relativeturning of said housing.

5. In a slack adjuster .foro foundation brake rigging, infcombination,an adjusting rod, a support for said rod including a housing, permanenttakeup and holding dogs within said housing engagingsaid rod, atemporary take up. housinghaving a dog saedssdt ed Sp means-semen tillion

said housing adapted to be compressed on excess travel and expand onrelease of the brakes to permanently take-up the slack.

6. In a slack adjuster for foundation brake rigging, in combination, anadjusting rod, a support for said rod including a housing, permanenttake-up and holding dogs within said housing engaging said rod, atemporary take-up housing having a dog engaging said rod, spring meansbetween said housing adapted to be compressed on excess travel andexpand on release of the brakes to permanently take up the slack, andmeans for causing relative longitudinal movement of said housing onexcess piston travel.

7. In a slack adjuster for foundation brake rigging, in combination, anadjusting rod, a support for said rod including a housing, permanenttake-up and holding dogs within said housing engaging said rod, atemporary take-up housing having a dog engaging said rod, spring meansbetween said housings adapted to be compressed on excess travel andexpand on release of the brakes to permanently take up the slack, andmeans for causing relative longitudinal movement OfSEtlCl housing onexcess piston travel, said means including a rod connected with thetemporary take-up mechanism and having a reverse bend entering thecylinder and adapted to be engaged by the piston on excess travel.

8. In a slack adjuster for foundation brake rigging, in combination, anadjusting rod, a support for said rod including a housing, permanenttake-up and holding dogs within said housing engaging said rod, atemporary take-up housing having a dog engaging said rod, and springmeans between said housings adapted to be com pressed on excess travel.

9. In a slack adjuster for foundation brake rigging, in combination, anadjusting rod, a support for said rod including a housing, permanenttake-up and holding dogs within said housing engaging said rod, atemporary take-up housing having a dog engaging said rod, spring meansbetween said housings adapted to be compressed on excess travel, andmeans preventing relative turning movement of the two housings.

10. In a slack adjuster for foundation brake rigging, in combination, anadjusting rod, a support for said rod including a housing, permanenttake-up and holding dogs within said housing engaging said rod, atemporary take-up housing having a dog engaging said rod, spring meansbetween said housing adapted to be compressed on excess travel, a lever,a pivot pin adapted to provide a pivotal connection between said leverand said rod and a guide for the pivot pin.

11. In a slack adjuster for foundation brake rigging, in combination, anadjusting rod, a support for said rod including a housing, permanenttake-up and holding dogs within said housing engaging said rod, atemporary take-up housing having a dog engaging said rod, spring meansbetween said housing adapted to be compressed on excess travel, a lever,a pivot pin adapted to provide a pivotal connection between said leverand said rod a guide for the pivot pin, and means for locking said pinin said guide.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WILLIAM H. SAUVAGE.

